Severe and strong intensity, says GeoNet. Did you have any damage? We didn't feel it. What a way to start the year, eh? The rumbling of dragons. Similar to our first night in NZ in 2005, we had a 5.0 at 2:00 am that woke us up. Just a moderate shake to say, "Welcome to New Zealand!"

I live less than 10 minutes drive from the World Famous San Diego Zoo in an area called North Park. Most folks don't realise that San Diego is the 6th largest city in the US, and we have our fair share of gang activity in the inner cities and north counties. Most of it is crystal meth drug trade related....

Please don't get the wrong impression of my city though....relatively low crime rate, and a beautiful place with a ton of stuff to do and see

Little D and I spent the evening at a friend's house as they were having a small party. 7-8 couples and their children. We haven't been to a New Year's Eve party in years - I am usually watching the ball drop while Mrs. D is well into REM sleep.

I knew things were going to be a little crazy upon our arrival when my friend told me that he turned on the pool heater a few hours ago (ambient air temp was a balmy 25 F). Good food (beef tenderloin on the grill), spirits and lots of games (euchre, anyone?). No Twister though. At midnight, shared a wonderful bottle of champagne then proceeded to light off several large fireworks. Due to the summer drought, there was a burn ban, so we had LOTS of things to choose from our Fourth of July stash. Then the polar bears hopped into the pool, got out and ran across the street to a neighbor with an indoor hot tub. We just took pictures, which I won't be uploading.

I worked and lived there north of Balboa Park for three months in 1981 and thought it was wonderful. I grew up in S. Cal but haven't lived there for 30 years, but now when I visit family in LA, I occasionally take the nice train ride down for the day. I would expect similar holiday excitement where I came from, but I was surprised that things have changed in San Diego, too.

I went to my sister's home with family members to celebrate the New Year. We had a nice holiday supper and exchanged gifts as we didn't all saw each other at christmas. I had a few drinks and we played card games (which I am really not good at) and I stayed there for the night. She provided some of us who slept there with a good breakfast and that's about it. I got home tired for I didn't slept to weel on a couch. Overall it was good.

the number of times i've gone out for New Years in my live-- i'm not much for holidays. This year was one of the quiet ones. Don't remember exactly what i did, but i'm sure it involved what i would normally do on a night off-- eat dinner, possibly carry-out, catch up on some dvr tv, maybe a movie, look at the internet. I like to go out when it's not so crowded and noisy-- i like to actually talk to the people i'm with.